I fell into writing about health shortly after grad school, where I realized I didn't want to work in a lab for the rest of my life! My areas of interest are the brain and behavior, as well as what influences the decisions we make about our health, and how the media helps and hinders people's understanding of health issues. As an undergraduate, I studied English Literature and Biopsychology at Vassar College, and got my PhD in Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience at CUNY's Graduate Center in New York City, where I grew up and live now. My day job is as Associate Editor with the health website, TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com. My work has appeared in several other publications, including TheAtlantic.com and YogaGlo.com, and I'm particularly excited to join the Forbes health team. Email me at alicegwalton [at] gmail [dot] com .

In case we didn’t quite grasp the vastness of social media’s power over us, two new studies help hammer the point home. Facebook has some decided benefits, but it can also, apparently, mess with our minds, drawing us into dependence and luring us to make unhealthy comparisons between ourselves and others. Though some of the studies’ findings seem almost humorous in their obviousness, others point to a darker phenomenon.

One new study found that the social media monster has – you’ll never see this coming – addictive qualities. This won’t surprise most users, but it’s helpful to have a scientific study to show it. The vast majority (85%) of the 1,000 people polled said they used Facebook as part of their regular routines. About a third said they used Facebook to stay on top of things and two-thirds admitted they used it to kill time. One quarter said they felt “ill at ease” if they can’t log in regularly. Sounds a lot like withdrawal.

More interesting was that women spent about 30% more time on Facebook than men, and they were more likely to post updates about emotions and relationships than men were. The most avid female Facebook users were also more likely to be unhappier and less content with their lives than others.

In fact, another new study found that Facebook may add to the body image issues that people, especially young women and girls, grapple with. Just over half of the study’s 600 participants said that looking at photos on Facebook added to their body-consciousness, and the same number said they compare themselves to others when they view photos or status updates. Just under half said that when looking at Facebook friends’ photos, they wished they had the same body or weight the person pictured.

A third also said they actually felt sad when they compared their own photos to those of their friends, and half said that the Timeline feature actually made it easier to compare changes in their body weight and size across time.

“Facebook is making it easier for people to spend more time and energy criticizing their own bodies and wishing they looked like someone else,” said Dr. Harry Brandt, director of The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, which conducted the study. “In this age of modern technology and constant access to SmartPhones and the internet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to remove themselves from images and other triggers that promote negative body image, low self-esteem and may ultimately contribute to eating disorders.”

This might suggest that Facebook may be doing what fashion magazines have long been criticized for: offering an avenue for young people to compare themselves to others. The difference here is that many times it’s among friends and acquaintances, rather than models. Earlier work found that the more time young women (12-19) spend on Facebook, the more likely they are to develop an eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia, and intense dieting. More avid Facebook users were also more likely to have negative feelings about their bodies and physical dissatisfaction.

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It depends on the person a lot! If someone’s main thing is to compare pictures… then yes, FB might not be a good thing. But a lot of people are using it for things like a business marketing or for things like a therapy ( a place to finally let things out, to say what you are really thinking, when in reality you may have no guts to say it straight to people’s faces, or even if you have guts to say things directly without the use of FB, sometimes you may still need the time to process your thoughts into words when correcting someone’s misunderstandings about you ). Also people are using FB to collect useful articles and quotes on their “walls”.

I committed ‘Facebook suicide’ five years ago. It was adding a new layer of friction to my relationships. It strained my working relationships with people who were on Facebook but didn’t send me friend requests, with people I worked with who were overly enthusiastic in ‘poking’ me and miffed if I didn’t respond, with people who hadn’t noticed I was avoiding them until I was forced to reject a friend request.

The most bizarre thing was getting a friend request from a cousin who hadn’t spoken to me in over ten years. Then, after I accepted her invitation, she refused to respond to any messages. It looked as if she had befriended me on Facebook just to remind me we weren’t speaking.

Darkone, I deactivated once too. A couple of weeks later I started another one. I missed seeing the smiling, friendly faces of friends and family. But, you have a point. Some Social Networkers are very sensitive.

“The most avid female Facebook users were also more likely to be unhappier and less content with their lives than others.” written proof that what I thought of wasn’t wrong! updating tens of statuses, profile pics, desperately trying to grab attention.. must be real bad

Hi, at my company we do use facebook to promote and share ideas with our customers. We also grow our business through facebook, constantly updating friends and family members on new company material, along with clients. Here is an interesing reading that should go along well with this one regarding negative feedback on Facebook, how it could negatively affect a persons money situation, etc.. http://nomorecreditcards.com/facebook-addicts-financial-survey/

This reading was published by Golden Financial Services, an A + rated debt settlement company that offer credit card relief programs at http://nomorecreditcards.com/credit-card-relief-programs/

Spend your time focusing your energy on what’s real in your life — the people who are there for you, your talents, your health, and whatever holds meaning for you. Then, these will increase, and bring you more abundance — and more self esteem.

Every mindless minute that is spent seeking approval on Facebook means less energy that can be used to build your life, and manifest your dreams.

If you don’t know what you want to do, take a look at that. Find out how Facebook may be functioning as some kind of bandage for something that needs your attention. http://www.self-esteem-guru.com/how-to-increase-self-esteem-facebook.html